A few more days passed.
Ruan Jiu had recovered a great deal. Although she could eat and talk without much difficulty, she still couldn't get out of bed for the time being. So she had to stay in the Shen Mansion to recuperate.
"Miss Biao, you scared me half to death!" Chun Tao said, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Ruan Jiu was half - lying in bed. She smiled and said, "Come on, if you cry any more, your eyes will be swollen. See, I'm fine."
To reassure Chun Tao, Ruan Jiu slowly lifted her arms.
These days, Chun Tao's eyes had been as swollen as walnuts every day. Ruan Jiu knew that Chun Tao cared about her.
"If I had guarded outside your room that night, you wouldn't have been kidnapped." Chun Tao blamed herself.
"If you had been outside the door, they might have kidnapped you too. You're so delicate, you wouldn't be able to stand it." Ruan Jiu joked.
Just then, a maid at the door reported that Lady Shen had come to visit with many valuable gifts.
So Ruan Jiu motioned for Chun Tao to quickly lower the bed curtain. She didn't like a single word Lady Shen had said that day. No wonder she had raised Shen Ruoxi to be so domineering! Like mother, like daughter. She didn't want Lady Shen to sully her sight.
"Miss Ruan, I've had people look for many rare things. See if there's anything you like?" Qin Shuang said.
"I don't like them. I don't want them. Please leave, Lady Shen." Ruan Jiu said coldly.
Hearing Ruan Jiu's impatient tone, Qin Shuang gritted her teeth in anger. A girl from a humble family dared to show her attitude. She wondered what about her had caught Yu'er's eye! She had no manners at all!
Qin Shuang took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Miss Ruan, I've come today to ask you to be merciful to Xi'er."
She knew that if Ruan Jiu didn't let it go, even if Shen Ruoxi got out of prison, she wouldn't live more than three days.
"Sorry, there are no horses in my family, so I don't know how to let a horse go."
Qin Shuang didn't expect that even though she had lowered herself so much, Ruan Jiu was still unmoved. Her tone was full of aggression. If it weren't for Shen Yu's repeated exhortations not to conflict with Ruan Jiu, she would have been unable to hold back her anger. As the mistress of the Shen family, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?
Qin Shuang continued in a deep voice, "I know Xie Jingchu has great influence in Qinzhou, but the Shen family is not to be trifled with. Are you really willing to see the Xie and Shen families fight to the bitter end?"
Ruan Jiu snorted. So soon she couldn't hold her temper?
"Lady Shen, are you threatening me?"
"I just hope you can give the Shen family some face."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help laughing. "Lady Shen thinks too highly of the Shen family. Now the Shen family is besieged on all sides in the capital. How many hands do you have left to clean up Shen Ruoxi's mess?"
After hearing this, Qin Shuang frowned and couldn't say a word.
Ruan Jiu continued, "If you're talking about face, I can give it."
"Really?"
"How about leaving Shen Ruoxi with a whole body, Lady Shen?"
These words completely enraged Qin Shuang. Her eyes fixed, and she roared, "What a rude girl! Didn't your parents ever teach you to forgive when you can?!"
Ruan Jiu's eyes darkened. Apart from anything else, at this moment, she rather envied Shen Ruoxi for having such loving parents. If her parents knew what she had suffered, would they feel sorry for her and stand up for her?
"I don't have parents, so no one ever taught me to be merciful after someone has tried to kill me."
Ruan Jiu's cold and low voice reached Qin Shuang's ears. For a moment, Qin Shuang stood there stunned. She didn't expect that Ruan Jiu was also a poor girl with a tragic background. These words instantly hit the softest part of her heart.
After a moment, Qin Shuang looked embarrassed and said with a choked voice, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you... I just hope you can understand a mother's heart!"
She couldn't lose another daughter!
"Enough!" Ruan Jiu shouted. "Lady Shen, please leave."
After saying that, Ruan Jiu propped herself up and lay down, hiding her head in the quilt.
Qin Shuang wanted to say something else, but was directly pushed out by Chun Tao.
Looking at the closed door, Qin Shuang sighed and left dejectedly.
In the following days, Ruan Jiu avoided seeing anyone from the Shen family. Even Shen Yu was turned away several times.
Until Ruan Jiu had recovered enough to get out of bed, she immediately decided to go home. She really didn't like this Shen Mansion at all. She didn't want to stay for a single extra moment.
Xie Jingchu supported Ruan Jiu and walked towards the door. Just then, a voice came from behind.
"Miss Ruan, wait a moment!" Shen Wenshan said hurriedly.
Ruan Jiu stopped in her tracks, looking unhappy. She guessed that he was here to plead for Shen Ruoxi again.
Xie Jingchu let go of Ruan Jiu's arm, turned around, his face as cold as ice.
"What else does Master Shen want?"
Shen Wenshan stepped forward. "Now that Miss Ruan is almost fully recovered, but Xi'er..."
Xie Jingchu curled his lips. "Shen Ruoxi is reaping what she sowed. Didn't the government office hand down the verdict today? She'll be exiled to the border in three days. Is Master Shen not satisfied with this result?"
Although they said so, everyone knew that once Shen Ruoxi got out of prison, Xie Jingchu would surely make her pay for her crimes. Even if he sent people to escort her along the way, with Xie Jingchu's ability and personality, he would spare no expense to take Shen Ruoxi's life.
Shen Wenshan sighed helplessly. "As long as you promise to spare Xi'er's life, I, Shen Wenshan, am willing to offer half of the Shen family's property. I will never go back on my word!"
There was no other way. Qin Shuang doted on Shen Ruoxi so much. She asked him to do whatever it took to save Shen Ruoxi's life. And he was well - known for loving his wife, so he had to follow Qin Shuang's wishes. So he had no choice but to take out half of the Shen family's fortune to save Shen Ruoxi.
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu sneered. "Do you think I would care about this?"
Ruan Jiu was his life. His life had been threatened. What was the use of money!
After saying that, Xie Jingchu turned around and continued to support Ruan Jiu out.
"Ruan Jiu!" Shen Yu's voice sounded.
"I beg you! Spare Xi'er's life! She's my sister! I can't just watch her die! If you're still not satisfied, I can go to the water prison and suffer all the pain you suffered that day!"
Ruan Jiu sighed. She turned around and said coldly, "Is Shen Ruoxi's life the only life? Isn't mine? Should she have taken my life that day before you think she deserves to die?!"
Ruan Jiu's words were like pearls. But when Shen Wenshan saw Ruan Jiu's face, he was instantly stunned. His eyes were full of shock.
"Miss Ruan, we didn't mean..."
Qin Shuang stepped forward. The moment she saw Ruan Jiu, all her words were stuck in her throat. Her legs went weak. Fortunately, Shen Yu was quick - witted and caught her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
Qin Shuang staggered forward. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her voice trembled.
"Yan... Yan'er..."